Interview with Illustrator Natsume Eri - "I want my characters' faces to reflect different emotions, depending on who's looking at them."

Well, it was more about fear than about responsibility. Of course, I was glad to receive a job offer, but seeing other people's illustrations in the same magazine that were so good made me wonder whether I could have done more. It was a bit frustrating.

Facial expressions are the most important part to me. I want my characters' faces to reflect different emotions, depending on who's looking at them. Like, if someone is looking at the drawing while feeling happy, the character might look like they're smiling, but if they're feeling a bit sad, it might look like they're crying. In a certain sense, it's like the artwork is meeting the viewer halfway.

It's got to be the illustrations I did of Raindear, a mermaid idol from the trading card game Cardfight!! Vanguard. I had the chance to draw her cards a number of timesーthe first time she was singing solo under the sea, and then later as a diva performing for a crowd. It's like I played a part in her story.

Looking back, my early illustrations may seem a bit embarrassing compared to where I am now, but seeing Raindear evolve over time felt like a reflection of my own growth as an illustrator, which was a refreshing experience. Those pieces are still treasured by fans, and they mean a lot to me too.

I look at a lot of photographs, both on social media and in photography books. Observing things like how shadows fall into the crevices of muscles can be very insightful. I really love playing around with shadows. There was a time when people were a bit shy about shading faces, but now there's a trend towards more pronounced shadows, and I'm here for it. I get a kick out of dramatic backlighting and casting shadows over my characters' faces. (laughs)

That's it! I've only just realized it through this chat. I am a shadow fetishist! (laughs)

Well, if the shadows seem out of place, it might be because the shadow color doesn't match the original skin tone. It's kind of like makeup—a pink with a blue undertone won't suit someone with a yellowish complexion. We might default to thinking "shadows = dark colors," but the real color we should use can change with the lighting or the setting. Try using the Eyedropper tool to check out what colors artists you like use for their shadows on skin. I recommend getting a feel for how shadow colors work with skin tones.

It's a bit of both. As times change, so do my preferences, which naturally follow the era's trends. Honestly, I haven't been too focused on defining my own personal styleーI'm just driven by a desire to try and draw whatever interests me. In the past, I've participated in the Eshi-100 exhibition with the artwork Watashi no Heya ("My Room"). It was the first time I really focused on and tackled a background, and it helped me realize that even the things I'm not good at can turn out well if I just try. Now I don't shy away from challenges, and that's really shaped who I am as an artist.

I've noticed a shift towards realism. Back in the day, anime and illustrations weren't really about piling on shadows, especially not on facesーthey used to be all about a more matte, inorganic look, almost doll-like. But now, there's a clear shift towards how close we can get to replicating muscles and skeletal structure, all while seeking a balance between realism and the cuteness typical of bishoujo illustrations. It used to be rare to see fine art techniques mixed with bishoujo illustrations, but now some formally trained artists are doing it, and their work is truly impressive. It makes you think studying art is pretty important. (laughs)

It does. The level of detail and quality expected from illustrators today has definitely increased compared to a few years ago. I feel that the reason I was able to handle a large volume of work in the past was that each piece required fewer steps and less time.

There was a time when I had deadlines every day, a workload that seems unimaginable now. After living like that for a while, I reached a point where I couldn't draw at all, to the extent that I considered quitting being an illustrator... I had reached a point where I lost the will to draw, but I eventually found my way back by taking some time to watch movies and chat with friends. Because of that experience, now I'm careful not to overcommit myself like I did back then.

The viewers of my channels may think, “Oh, she’s doing an exhibition for her anniversary, let's check it out,” while people who know me more for my art might be like, “Oh wow, it’s been four years?" and check out my channel. It’s a happy coincidence, really, but it turned into this wonderful opportunity to say thanks to everyone who’s been supporting me.

I'm showcasing not just recent works but also older pieces. I hope visitors will get a sense of the evolution of what I want to draw and what I'm passionate about. Changing up what I draw every so often has kept things interesting and helped me stick with being an illustrator for this long.

And while I’ve got some really emotional or extravagant pieces on display, I hope people can also pick up on the fun and slightly goofy vibe I have while drawing. (laughs) The exhibition’s a bit of a mash-up of all the different sides of me, so I’m hoping visitors get a kick out of everything—the pretty, the fun, and even the quirky bits.

There's a pillow featuring Gasorin, an original character I've been drawing for a long time. It's something people have wanted for ages, so I think many will be thrilled, myself included. That's the piece of merch I'm most excited about!

Also, this time’s main visual was used in a layered acrylic print, which has a multi-layered structure giving it depth. It suits this illustration perfectly, and I believe it was the best method for this piece. I was really moved when I saw the actual item at the venue, so I hope many people will come to see it!

I recently fulfilled my dream of making a figure, so... It's a bit vague, but I don’t want to be confined to just being an illustrator or VTuber. More than anything else, I want to be on the lookout for new and exciting things to try, and stay true to my desire to constantly challenge myself!